Zambian poacher arrested

Bulawayo Bureau

AN armed Zambian poacher was arrested last Thursday in the Hwange National Park after a shootout with game rangers while his four accomplices fled the scene, police have confirmed.


Speaking in an interview with the Sunday News on Thursday, Assistant Inspector Philip Mpofu confirmed the arrest of the poacher, but would not be drawn into revealing his nationality, saying doing so could jeopardise relations between the two countries.

"I can confirm that someone was arrested at Sinamatela Park and is assisting the police with investigations leading to the arrest of his accomplices.

"The culprit had no particulars on him, but he claimed to be a Zambian, but at the present moment we cannot comment anything about his nationality until the investigations are complete," said Asst Insp Mpofu.

However, police sources told the Sunday News that the arrested suspect, Morris Kakwezi (24), is a Zambian national residing at Samuholo village, in Zambia’s North West province.

Kakwezi is said to have crossed the Zambezi River using a canoe and gained entry into Zimbabwe through the Katombora area, an illegal entry point.

Kakwezi was with four other poachers who entered Sinamatela and began poaching wildlife. Their illegal hunting spree came to a halt when they were confronted by game rangers, leading to a fierce shootout.

"The culprit is a Zambian nationality and was part of a group of poachers that had besieged Sinamatela and started engaging in illegal hunting.

"The group was spotted by two armed game rangers last Thursday and resisted arrest, leading to a shootout and in the ensuring shootout, Kakwezi’s gun jammed and the rangers managed to apprehend him after a chase whilst his accomplices fled," said the source on condition of anonymity.

The source said the suspect later led the investigating team to the area they had used to gain entry into Zimbabwe. The investigating team included the country’s law enforcers, Parks and Wildlife Management Authority officials and Zambian Wildlife Authority officials.

"We convened a meeting with Parks officials and the Zambian Wildlife Authority officials and after the meeting, the poacher led us to the point they used to get into the country. The poacher told us the area he resided in as well as his accomplices," he said.

The Zambian’s case was presided over on Monday at the Hwange magistrates’ court and he was remanded in custody to appear in court to answer charges of entry by evasion, attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and illegal hunting of wildlife.

The Zambians killed a zebra valued at $165 000 and a tortoise valued at $10 000.

An AK rifle, serial number KN 8181, was recovered including a total of 44 bullets.

No one was injured during the exchange of fire.

I wish the game rangers could shoot better. Be less poachers.